Archive for year: 2014

Western Real Estate Business featured the following article in their December 16, 2014 newsletter.

IRVINE, CALIF. — KZ Companies has announced plans to build 13 new CVS/Health and Longs drugstores in Hawaii and Southern California. The planned development represents about $150 million of construction in the pipeline.

KZ Companies completed construction on five CVS Health/Longs Drugs stores in Hawaii and California this past year. The full-service commercial real estate development firm anticipates it will complete three more outposts in 2015, valued at more than $25 million.

Some of the 13 new drugstores will be delivered to Murrieta, Chula Vista and Long Beach, Calif. They will also be completed on the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Maui, as well as on the Big Island.

Though Longs was acquired by CVS/Health in 2008, the chain still exists in Hawaii. Once the current pipeline is cleared, KZ will have delivered a total of more than 45 CVS/Health and Long’s Drugs stores.

“We are very excited about our future growth and will continue to build on our past successes,” says Mark Zimmerman, KZ Companies’ general partner. “Our skilled team of professionals allows us to achieve more with less.”

Irvine-based KZ Companies specializes in shopping center development, single-tenant representation, property management and construction management.

KAPAA, KAUAI – The drum shown in the adjacent photo is made from the coconut trees originally grown on the new Longs Drug store site which opened on November 9, 2014 in Kapa’a, Kauai. The project included the relocation and replanting of a large number of its coconut trees in order to preserve the grove-like appearance of the world famous ‘Golden Coconut Coast’. As part of efforts made by the developer, KZ Companies, and the GC, Allied Builders System, to work with the community, the trees that were taken down were recycled with local organizations.

In Hawaii it is a tradition to have a Hawaiian Blessing at the start of a construction project and again when the store opens. KZ Companies has always made sure to honor this tradition with its Longs Drugs projects. During the first blessing of the Kapaa site, it was brought to our attention that one of the local hālau hula, (hula schools) was in need of sections of coconut trees to construct traditional Hawaiian drums for use in The Merrie Monarch Festival. This festival is a weeklong cultural event that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii. It honors King David Kalākaua, who was called the ‘Merrie Monarch’ in reference to his patronage of the arts and who is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the hula. Many hālau hulas, including some from the U.S. mainland and some international performers, attend the festival each year to participate in exhibitions and competitions. The festival has received worldwide attention and is considered the most prestigious of all hula contests. Once the trees were cleared and cut into sections, the hālau came to the site and filled four trucks with material for creation of the drums. Every year drums are made for the festival on a different Hawaiian Island and in April 2014 the festival was held here in Kauai. Three of the drums used in this prestigious festival were lovingly made from the coconut trees that were repurposed from the Longs site in Kapaa.

By working with the local people here in Kauai, we have been fortunate to not only contribute a new project to the community, but also to enjoy the chance to add to the Hawaiian tradition and heritage. For more information on the grand opening and blessing, please see our featured article in TGI News: http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/long-awaited/article_afd61ff6-6892-11e4-9e89-9f2ffc36bae3.html?mode=story.

HONOLULU, HAWAII – KZ Companies a full service commercial real estate development firm specializing in shopping center development, started construction of a 13,380 SF freestanding Long’s Drugs on behalf of CVS/pharmacy. The project is located on the outskirts of Honolulu in the town of Aina Haina. The property is adjacent to a Foodland anchored neighborhood shopping center along Kalanianaole Highway and Hind Drive. KZ broke ground on September 1st and is anticipating the store to be open in the 3Q of 2015.

SAN DIEGO, CA — KZ Companies Real Estate Development firm hires Robert Falar as Director of Construction at their office in San Diego.

As a development project manager, Falar will be responsible for new project planning, entitlements support, permitting support, design management and construction administration.

Falar has more than 15 years of experience in the Design and Construction industry. He previously worked for companies such as L.A. Arena Company, Sundt Construction Inc. and ISEC, Inc. He spent more than 10 years at his last company, ISEC, Inc., where he held a variety of positions such as Project Engineer, Project Manager and Direct Sales and Estimating.

“We are excited about bringing Robert’s expertise and energy into our Company to help us support our clients,” Patrick Cowan, KZ Companies’ Sr. Vice President, said.

IRVINE, CA—Locally based KZ Companies has completed construction of two CVS/pharmacies in Long Beach and is in the process of building two Long’s Drugs in Hawaii. The total budget for the four projects was in excess of $50 million.

One Long Beach CVS, which opened Feb. 14, is located on Pacific Coast Highway and 2nd St. The 17,043-square-foot store has a total land area of 1.2 acres. The second CVS, located at Pacific Coast Highway and Los Coyotes Diagonal, opened March 9 and contains 14,576 square feet with a total land area of 1.5 acres.

Read more: http://www.globest.com/news/12_822/orangecounty/retail/DevCo-Spending-50M-on-Drugstore-Builds-344098.html